Mar 10 Todd Zolecki, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports Philadelphia Phillies CL Brad Lidge (knee) will throw off the mound Monday, March 10. He remains on schedule to be able to return in time for the season opener. "He's a little ahead of schedule," Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "I don't know how many innings he's going to need [to be ready for the season opener]. He'll need to get out there, that's for sure. We'll get to that point when he's feeling right and he's thrown off the mound a few times."

Mar 10 Todd Zolecki, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports Philadelphia Phillies CL Brad Lidge (knee) will throw off the mound Monday, March 10. He remains on schedule to be able to return in time for the season opener. "He's a little ahead of schedule," Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "I don't know how many innings he's going to need [to be ready for the season opener]. He'll need to get out there, that's for sure. We'll get to that point when he's feeling right and he's thrown off the mound a few times."

Phillies NotesCLEARWATER, Fla. - Phillies closer Brad Lidge, less than a month removed from surgery on his right knee, pitched a scoreless inning in a minor-league game yesterday and said he hopes to be ready for opening day.

The Phillies have not committed to that yet.

Lidge threw 16 pitches, allowed two hits, and got out of the inning with a double-play ball. He threw all fastballs and sliders. Lidge estimated that his fastball was 91 m.p.h.

"I still need to generate more velocity," he said. "My arm speed is not where it needs to be. But I've got three more outings this week, and I believe it will get a lot better. Those last couple ticks of velocity can only come in a [major-league] game."

Lidge will throw in minor-league games tomorrow, Thursday and probably Saturday. He said his knee felt fine and he believes he will be ready to open the season on time a week from today. Phillies officials are open to that but will not make a decision until later in the week.

"He looks healthy and his stuff is good," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said. "Whether he'll be ready for opening day is still to be determined, but there's a chance. The medical people and [pitching coach] Rich Dubee still need to weigh in."

Lidge is eligible to come off April 5, meaning he will miss a minium of the first four games of the regular season.

He has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in February.

Lidge pitched in a minor league game Sunday at the Carpenter Complex. The righthander faced five hitters, loading the bases with two hits and a walk before getting a batter to ground into an inning-ending doubleplay. He threw 19 pitches and did not allow a run, but expressed some dissatisfaction with his velocity and command.

"That's obviously their decision, but at the same time I feel like if I'm not ready for Opening Day, [next Monday] I'll be ready, with the day off, maybe the next day," Lidge said after Sunday's outing. "At this point, my biggest thing is that everything feels OK. I just need to start getting some arm strength and getting sharper." *

Well I guess the "Medical People" and pitching coach Rich Dubee have "weighed in"....lol

"He looks healthy and his stuff is good," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said. - thanks Mike for the input.